~*~ WITCH ~*~
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Yes...PM are also welcome...Originally posted by MoonIce:contact here can liao loh
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you joining the class too... anyone going ....Originally posted by MoonIce:contact here can liao loh -
A Tribute to Doreen Valiente,
The Mother of Modern Witchcraft.
1922 - 1999
THE EARLY YEARS
Doreen Edith Dominy, daughter of Harry and Edith, was born in Mitcham, South London on 4th January 1922. Very little is known about this early part of her life but her birth certificate can be viewed here. In a letter dated from 1982 to Janet and Stewart Farrar, Doreen gives us a glimpse into her parents life before she was born. (letter courtesy of Janet Farrar).
Finding herself growing up in the West of England, the young Doreen acquired the local accent that she never lost. The West country (as it is known in Britain) is an area noted for its rural beauty and strong attachment to the land. Even today it is not unusual to find folk dances at midsummer, fertility stones and healing wells that have been used continuously for centuries. It is in these surroundings that the young Doreen grew up.
As a young girl, she began to play a solitary game to amuse herself - running up and down the street riding a broomstick. Why she did this at such a young age she never knew, but her parents feared she would become a witch - something they found quite disconcerting (her parents were very religious and were ardently opposed to witchcraft). -
worst witch stori nown in Mac Beth.. cause 4 d downfall of a Hero..
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A Tribute to Doreen Valiente,
The Mother of Modern Witchcraft.
1922 - 1999
Doreen Valiente Passport with a photo of herself in her 20s
TEEN WITCH
In her teenage years, whilst living in the New Forest in Hampshire, Doreen began to experiment with simple magic. At the tender age of thirteen, she heard that her mother was being subjected to persistent persecution and harassment in her work as a housekeeper. She confided in her daughter that a particular unpleasant woman had been picking on her. In response Doreen asked her mother to obtain a lock of hair belonging to the bullying colleague and intimated that she would work a charm to solve the problem once and for all. Whether Mrs. Dominy went along with this out of amusement, desperation or simple curiosity in not actually known but she did bring back a few strands of hair belonging to her persecutor.
Using black-ended pins and a few traditional herbs, Doreen made a figurine of the woman in question and wound the strands of hair around the doll. She then cast a spell to protect her mother from further interference. Shortly afterwards, the woman who was causing so much trouble to Mrs. Dominy, was herself harassed - by a blackbird! The creature began tapping on the window every time she entered a room and followed her around the house, pecking on the glass. The woman was absolutely terrified as the stalking blackbird continued to pester her for some time. Doreen maintained that the bullying of her mother abruptly ceased.
It must be said that Doreen was in fact brought up as a Christian and sent to a convent school where she walked out at the age of fifteen and refused to return. -
A Tribute to Doreen Valiente,
The Mother of Modern Witchcraft.
1922 - 1999
THE WAR YEARS
Doreen's first marriage was to Joanis Vlachopoulos, a thirty-two-year-old Able Seaman serving with the Merchant Navy. The marriage took place in South Wales on 31/1/1941 where the couple were living at the time; Doreen in Barry and Joanis in Cardiff. An interesting fact is that the nineteen-year-old Doreen is named as Rachael Dominy on the marriage certificate, information kindly supplied by long-standing friend of Doreen's, Patricia Crowther. It also appears that Joanis was unable to sign his name (illiteracy was not all that uncommon during the war)
Tragically, less than six months later, Joanis went missing, presumed dead. We are not sure how Doreen coped with this huge loss but she was not alone - there were families losing loved-ones every day during World War II. However we do know that, as the War progressed, Doreen continued to work as a secretary in Wales.
On 29/5/1944 Doreen wed Casimiro Valiente - the name which would stay with her for the rest of her life. They were married at St Pancras Registry Office, and now Doreen's name and nationality were amended by virtue of marriage. She was now a Spanish national -
A Tribute to Doreen Valiente,
The Mother of Modern Witchcraft.
1922 - 1999
THE 1950s
In the summer of 1952, in the little town of Christchurch, New Forest, Hampshire, England, lived a lady named 'Dafo'. She used this pseudonym because it was only the year before that witchcraft was still a criminal offence (the Witchcraft Act of 1735 was repealed in 1951). Dafo had initiated Gerald Gardner in the autumn of 1939 and was a key member of the original New Forest Coven.
On this occasion in 1952, Dafo introduced a raven-haired lady of thirty years to Gerald Gardner. So began Doreen's first footsteps along the path of Wicca. However it was one year later in 1953 that Doreen received the first degree initiation into the Craft, given (as tradition demanded) by a member of the opposite sex. Gardner conducted the initiation himself on Midsummer's Eve. He had just travelled from his witchcraft museum on the Isle of Man to attend the Druid Solstice gathering at Stonehenge where he was to loan the Ancient Druid Order his ritual sword. On this journey he dropped by the home of Dafo and initiated the young Doreen, whom he had met the previous summer.
Gardner used his Book of Shadows from the late forties up until 1953 when he initiated Doreen. He claimed the material was taken directly from the New Forest Coven and was the remnants of the Old Religion, which had been passed down through the ages. His astute student Ameth (the name given to Doreen) noticed that one passage read out by Gardner was taken from Aleister Crowley's Gnostic Mass.
On this point, Doreen took Gardner to task and he replied that the Wicca rites he had received were fragmentary and he had filled them in the best he could. He gave Doreen his Book of Shadows saying "Can you do any better?" She did, replacing much of the Crowley and Masonic material with her own verse. She reconstructed the documents into a logical, practical and workable system, leaving us with what we know today as "Wicca".
Doreen Valiente's Book of Shadow
It was Gardner's penchant for interviews with the press that eventually led to Doreen severing contact with him for several years. In Doreen's book The Rebirth of Witchcraft, she explains that as the coven's High Priestess, she felt that by speaking to the press, Gardner was compromising the security of the group and the sincerity of his own teachings. A set of rules were introduced called the "Proposed Rules for the Craft" which would prevent any members of the Craft from speaking to journalists or writers without permission from the Elders.
Gardner was fully expected to follow these rules but retaliated with the claim that the Craft already had a set of traditional laws. He then sent the members of the coven "The Old Laws" - documents containing practical advice and theology. Doreen didn't believe these "Old Laws" were authentic and parted company with Gardner. However they did later restore their friendship but never to the same degree as before. -
A Tribute to Doreen Valiente,
The Mother of Modern Witchcraft.
1922 - 1999
THE 1960s
Doreen had always conducted her magical activities with complete discretion, avoiding publicity and the media, unlike her mentor Gerald Gardner. One reason for this rather circumspect attitude was out of consideration for her mother who did not know her daughter was a practicing Witch.
In 1964 after the death of both her mother and Gerald Gardner in the same year, Doreen cast off her Gardnerian mantle and was initiated by Robert Cochrane into a traditional, hereditary branch of Witchcraft. The 1960's brought fresh public perceptions. The sexual revolution, contraception, peace movements and social upheaval led to old-fashioned ideals being swept away. Witchcraft was no exception.
Suddenly Witches, in particular Sybil Leek and Alex and Maxine Saunders, became media personalities and actively courted the publicity. The Old Guard of Wicca still refused to yield and come forward, shunning all contact with anyone outside the Craft.
Doreen was one of the few who managed to find a middle-ground; never denying paganism or fearing to speak out in its defense, yet still maintaining the traditional low-key approach to Wicca. The Cochrane initiation only strengthened this position and allowed Doreen to move away from internal politics which were beginning to emerge within Gardnerianism.
However, Doreen soon became disillusioned by Cochrane and noted his obsession with ‘witch potions’ that nearly led to some unfortunate consequences. Cochrane later died at Midsummer, 1966. -
A Tribute to Doreen Valiente,
The Mother of Modern Witchcraft.
1922 - 1999
THE 1970s
Doreen entered a decade where her life was to change dramatically. Her beloved husband Casimiro Valiente died in April 1972. Finding herself alone she began to, in her own words, "concentrate on writing books." Her books, An ABC of Witchcraft (1973), followed by Natural Magic (1975), established her as an authority on magic and Wicca.
An ABC of Witchcraft gave an alphabetical listing of concise occult information dealing with a host of differing subjects, from ancient mysticism such as the Kabbalah, to drug use by occultists.
Natural Magic, a much shorter work but none the less informative, took a different approach and empathized with the knowledge seeker. Basic questions and formative experiences are addressed here; which plants to introduce into the home for a certain astrological influence; which amulets and stones to wear which bring peace and tranquility; herbal remedies and numerology. Perhaps the style and material was designed to aid the Wiccan beginner but it also helped those already on the path by providing another reference book full of well researched facts.
The 1970’s saw other authors, researchers and pagans drawn to Doreen, to tap into her wealth of anecdotes, personal reminisces of leading Craft figures and large private library spanning every known occult theme. They also asked for help in editing their own written tracts. In this last role Doreen was indispensable and it is true to say that she corrected, proof read, edited and contributed to a great many classic Wiccan titles on the bookshelves today – all this free of charge!
It is clear that Doreen was corresponding more widely than ever, particularly with the new established pagan movements, Wiccan Churches and certain elements one might call 'Aquarian' or 'New Age'.
Ron "Cookie"
Finding herself in this unique role, Doreen challenged the attempt of the British Parliament to pass legislation against Witchcraft. In 1972, she lobbied the Member of Parliament concerned, Mr. Gwilym Roberts, in order to try and clarify the situation. Not much is known about Mr. GwilymÂ’s reaction but the end result was that the new laws were not passed.
Doreen took a keen interest during mid-seventies in the pagan past of Sussex, an English county steeped in Paganism. In fact, it was the last county to convert to Christianity in England and Doreen fell in love with the area. She also fell in love with Ron (Cookie) Cooke. She knew at once that she had known him in a previous life. Ron an ex-policeman, was also a member of the residents committee in the block of flats where they both lived. -
A Tribute to Doreen Valiente,
The Mother of Modern Witchcraft.
1922 - 1999
1980s -The Search for Dorothy Clutterbuck
It is a well-known fact that Doreen Valiente initiated her search for Old Dorothy Clutterbuck due to historian Jeffrey B. Russell's 1980 book, A History of Witchcraft. In his book, Russell implies that Gerald Gardner invented Old Dorothy (although Gardner claimed that Old Dorothy initiated him in 1939).
Although it was Doreen's painstaking and diligent research that finally unearthed the death certificate of Old Dorothy Clutterbuck in 1982, it must be noted that it was Virginia Russell who suggested that Doreen should look at the Indian Military Records. Many English families had connections with India during the Colonial period, and as luck would have it, so did the Clutterbuck's. -
A Tribute to Doreen Valiente,
The Mother of Modern Witchcraft.
1922 - 1999
1990s
With the passing of Ron (Cookie) Cooke in 1997, Doreen found herself alone in the world once again. Her grief was great and close friends noticed the sadness that came over her. Yet Doreen still made time for the Pagan community despite her bereavement. Her beloved partner, nicknamed ‘Dusio’, had passed over to the Summerlands.
Her contribution in terms of personal guidance, research, writing, poetry, public speaking and ritual, must be viewed as part of a prolific wave that firmly established not only Wicca, but Aquarian values as a whole. It was this sheer volume of output that helped make Wicca the fastest growing religion in the Western world.
One issue that did concern Doreen was the ethical and educational standards of the Craft. As seekers increased, so too did charlatans and spurious teachings, imparting distorted or degenerate practices. It was something she detested and was firmly opposed to. When the Centre For Pagan Studies opened in 1995, offering a facility for learned research and a non commercial environment, Doreen welcomed the initiative and became the Patron. She gave her last talk there.
1999 was beset by increased physical illness, but at no time did her mental agility nor command of magic desert her. She continued to remain a very powerful, resolute individual until her final breath on this Earth.
In her last days, Doreen was moved to a nursing home. She was suffering from a multitude of conditions - cancer being one of them. Friends kept vigil by her bedside (some coming from as far afield as London) and kept her company in the last days. On the day of her death on 1st September 1999, John Belham-Payne remained with her - the man she had chosen to pass on her magical legacy. At precisely 6.55 a.m. Doreen (Rachael) Edith Valiente shook off her mortal coil and took a new form in the Otherworld.
These are the Tributes to Doreen Valiente, a Truly Remarkable Witch that befits the Title of "Mother of Modern Witchcraft", i personally like her works, to me she is the Crone, Women of Wisdom... Although she has moved on but her knowledge & Spirit will always be with us...May she be happy in Summerland, We believe in life after life, we look forward to the day when we meet again. Merry Meet & Merry Part...Till we Merry Meet again...
Blessed Be,
Oceanos -
hahaha funny boy...Don't think u do well in literature because of that perhaps...Originally posted by hell_jul:worst witch stori nown in Mac Beth.. cause 4 d downfall of a Hero..
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Charge of the Goddess~ Doreen Valiente
Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who of old was called Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Diana, Arienrhod, Brigid, and by many other names:
Whenever you have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full, you shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me who is Queen of all Witches.
There shall you assemble, who have not yet won my deepest secrets and are fain to learn all sorceries. To these shall I teach that which is yet unknown.
You shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be free you shall be naked in your rites.
Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in My presence, for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and Mine also is joy on earth.
For My law is love unto all beings.
Mine is the secret that opens upon the door of youth, and Mine is the cup of wine of life that is the Cauldron of Cerridwen that is the holy grail of immortality.
I am the Gracious Goddess who gives the gift of youth unto the heart of mankind.
I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with those that have gone before.
Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the mother of all things and My love is poured upon the earth.
Hear the words of the Star Goddess, the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven, whose body encircles the universe:
I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters,
I call upon your soul to arise and come unto Me. For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe. From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must return.
Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold -- all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals. Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.
And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.
For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire. -
Doreen Valiente has always been an icon of modern witchcraft, her "Charge of the Goddess" is really empowering in a sense comparably to other's.Originally posted by En':Charge of the Goddess~ Doreen Valiente
Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who of old was called Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Diana, Arienrhod, Brigid, and by many other names:
Whenever you have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full, you shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me who is Queen of all Witches.
There shall you assemble, who have not yet won my deepest secrets and are fain to learn all sorceries. To these shall I teach that which is yet unknown.
You shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be free you shall be naked in your rites.
Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in My presence, for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and Mine also is joy on earth.
For My law is love unto all beings.
Mine is the secret that opens upon the door of youth, and Mine is the cup of wine of life that is the Cauldron of Cerridwen that is the holy grail of immortality.
I am the Gracious Goddess who gives the gift of youth unto the heart of mankind.
I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with those that have gone before.
Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the mother of all things and My love is poured upon the earth.
Hear the words of the Star Goddess, the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven, whose body encircles the universe:
I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters,
I call upon your soul to arise and come unto Me. For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe. From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must return.
Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold -- all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals. Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.
And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.
For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.
Fossegrim -
Originally posted by Fossegrim:Doreen Valiente has always been an icon of modern witchcraft, her "Charge of the Goddess" is really empowering in a sense comparably to other's.
Fossegrim
Merry Meet Fossegrim,
True to the core....her version of "Charge of the Goddess" is one of the longer & more powerful one so far... Impressively witchy i would say...but again she is more toward cottage-styled witch which seem to be less commercialised & fluffy than others...although she also publishing her books for sale but her works has more depths...Thanks for sharing...
Blessed Be,
Oceanos -
The real teenage Witches
By Zoe Coleman
It is not clear why Paganism is so popular among young people in the UK while the Christian Church struggles to raise the numbers of teenagers in the pews. But the youth-friendly image of Paganism may have something to do with it. There certainly there aren't too many cool teenage Christians on TV.
It's cool to be a Witch
Since the 1960s young people have become interested in magic and the spiritual world through popular books, television series and films.
Bewitched (1964-1972) showed one of the first representations of a Witch on television. Samantha was a quirky housewife with magical powers who was desperately trying to conform to the 1960s ideal and stop her 'witchiness' leaking out.
The 1980s and 1990s saw a huge rise in the popularity of magic and Witchcraft as it began to flood the mainstream media. Witchcraft became much more acceptable and the characters portrayed were much stronger and more open about their practices.
A US television drama, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has probably been the most influential media representation of Witchcraft. One of the main characters, Willow, is an alternative to the sugary 'Barbie' - type role model. She is a Witch who dabbles in lesbianism, dresses in sexy clothes and casts spells.
Hollywood also picked up on the trend for the magical with films like Witches of Eastwick ( 1987 ), The Craft ( 1996 ) and Practical Magick ( 1998 ).
Learning more
Although the mass media shows Witchcraft as glamorous and exciting, teenagers who are serious about learning more use library books and the internet to research the subject.
Books like Kate West's The Real Witch's Handbook : A complete introduction to the Craft for both young and old alike, (Thorsons 2001), is a good starting point for real beginners who then go on to read the basic texts of Wicca and Paganism. This even includes a draft letter that a young person can send to his/her parents explaining why s/he has become Wiccan and what it is about.
They learn that Wicca involves more that just the practice of magic. It is a religion that involves the worship of the Goddess and God and the veneration of the Divine in nature.
Why Paganism?
The attraction of Paganism is not only in the idea of casting love spells. The popularity of Paganism can also be attributed to the fact that it tackles issues that teenagers are interested in - in a way that other religions do not.
The supernatural is a good example of this. Massimo Introvigne (lecturer at Harvard University) suggests that programmes such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer illustrate the problems that organised religions are suffering from. He says that Buffy is telling us that 'Supernatural beings may be out there, but traditional theology is not regarded as useful for dealing with them'.
Paganism also places issues such as the environment, morality and gender at the top of its list of priorities. These are issues that teenagers can relate to. The Pagan Federation of Great Britain states in its three main principles a 'love for and kinship with Nature' a 'positive morality' and a 'recognition of the Divine which transcends gender'.
Author, Silver Ravenwolf thinks that the inclusion of women is a particularly important factor for the masses of teenage girls who turn to Paganism. She says 'women in particular don't like the idea of being second-class citizens in spirituality. Wicca has the male and female on the same footing'.
The dangers
Parents of teenagers who practice Witchcraft are often worried about what their children might be involved in, and who might be influencing them. Most of these fears can be easily dispelled. Most covens will not admit members under the age of eighteen, so most young Pagans either practice on their own in groups of other teenagers. Once parents realise their children are practicing a nature religion rather than getting involved in evil and the occult their fears are often put aside.
Teenagers searching for a new kind of spirituality may have stumbled across Paganism through the media, but they have found its messages relevant.
Paganism has come out of the religious left-field and succeeded in attracting the group that institutionalised religions have found so elusive. -
Tips For Solitary Witches
By jim garrison, (c) 1997
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There are a lot more self-initiated Witches out there than practically any other variety. While it is a valid and legitimate spiritual path, self-initiation also poses a few unique challenges to those who would seek the Old Gods on their own. If you are contemplating self-initiation and the building of your own version of spiritual practice based on the Wiccan model, here are some tips to help make the process go a bit more smoothly.
1. You have every right to initiate yourself and to follow your own, unique path to the gods. No one has a monopoly on wisdom, nor on the Mysteries. Anyone who approaches the gods with sincerity, respect, and integrity can and will discover their own way to commune with these essential forces of nature. It requires creativity, persistence, and determination--it is a challenging path to take.
2. Clarify your intent. Ask yourself "Why am I doing this?" It is wise that you examine your motivations--pursuing such an intensive path as solitary Wicca is not something to do on a whim, nor is it a "fun" hobby. It's work, and plenty of it. You don't get to take advantage of someone else's previous efforts, except for what you can get out of books. You have to build your own foundation, and establish a mythos and context within which to work. You can just declare yourself a member of your own tradition, but what will it mean?
3. Gather your resources. You need to establish a set of ground rules--guidelines for what you want and what you plan to do. This will require reading everything you can get. Try to read a diversity of authors, and don't just read about Witchcraft--broaden your horizons as much as possible.
4. If you find something you like, adapt it. Don't just lift it out
of its context. Once you have a basic framework within/upon which to work, rewrite everything to fit your emerging vision. Don't be worried about perfection-you will re-write things many times as you develop and grow. The more you learn, the more you'll be able to enhance, refine, and desire to modify your first attempts at ritual. When members of a tradition refer to basic things such as their oaths, the creed of their sect, whatever degree they may have been initiated into or whatever, these things all mean something within that tradition. When you are self-initiated, it's all up to you what it all means to you--in as far as it applies to you and you alone. Develop your own unique versions of those elements of the Craft that you choose to adopt. It's perfectly fine to toss out all the old stuff and start out on your own path. If you do, there's a lot of baggage to deal with, and you might not want to toss the baby out with the bath water. Take some time and reflect upon these things. Make no hasty decisions. Seek to understand your impetus and motivation for removing or including the various bits and pieces of Craft material. Personal creativity is a vital part of the Craft. There's not much room for dogma in an ec.
* The above Article is taken & presented without any edits mainly for informational purposes only. ~*~ LIGHT OF ATLANTIS ~*~ will not be responsible for any of its contents, misuses or abuses using the information presented. -
A Pagan Child's ABC's
A is Athame, the knife that we use.
B is for Beltaine, when partners we choose.
C is for Circle where we all are one.
D is for Deosil, path of the Sun.
E is for Esbat, when we gather round.
F is for Fire and its crackling sound.
G is for the Goddess in beauty and love.
H is the Horned One, our Father above.
I is for Imbolg, candles light the way,
J is for June when it's Midsummer's Day.
K is for Karma, the things that we do.
L is for Lammas, harvest's almost through!
M is for Moon, riding way up so high,
N is for Nighttime, which darkens the sky.
O is for Ostara, when we hunt for eggs,
P is for Pan, with hairy goat legs.
Q is the Quarters and there are just four,
R for the Rites when we open the Door.
S is for Samhain, end of the year,
T is for Tarot cards, futures to hear
U is Undines from the watery West,
V is Vervain for protection and rest.
W is Widdershins, the path of the moon.
X is the sign that's the sign of the God.
Y is for Yule and the sun's return,
Z is the Zodiac, 12 signs to learn.
Copyright 1989, Breid Foxsong
* The above Excerpts are taken & presented without any edits mainly for informational purposes only. ~*~ LIGHT OF ATLANTIS ~*~ will not be responsible for any of its contents, misuses or abuses using the information presented. -
My Mom Is a Witch
By Judith Barish
Here's 7-year old Casey talking about the witch. "She had a green face, red eyes, really pointy nose, a pointy black hat and an owl." It was Halloween, and the kindergarten class was reading about monsters and witches.
Casey's mother Deborah called the teacher to complain. "I'm so sorry," said the teacher. "Is Casey scared? Is he having nightmares?" "No," said Deborah. "His father and I are witches, and we don't appreciate Casey being exposed to stereotypical images of crones on broomsticks."
While other kids attend Hebrew School or Easter Egg hunts, witch kids accompany their parents to pagan rituals. They dance around the Maypole on May Day. At Halloween, they attend the Spiral Dance. At the Summer Solstice, they help construct and burn a wicker man on the beach.
Most kids brought up in a pagan community take to the rites with zeal. "It's fun for them," said Anne Hill, who co-authored a book on raising children in a goddess tradition. It's cool to be a witch, said Casey, who even has his own witch name. Eleven-year-old Hazel assembled her own altar decorated with what her father called "power objects:" feathers, candles, bones.
Black magic? Nah. Pagan children apply their witchcraft to the mundane details of gradeschool life. "Casey's first spell was for the elephant at the zoo," Deborah told me. "The Asian elephant lost its mate, and Casey was very sad about it. When we got home, he made a circle of all his elephant toys, put a candle in the middle, and made a spell so that the elephant would get a new friend."
When fourteen-year-old Shannon got her first period, her parents and the rest of their coven celebrated a ritual in her honor, complete with presents. Another preteen wanted to know if there was a ritual for shaving the first hair that grew under her arms.
Do pagan children ever rebel and become, say, investment bankers or Mormons? Elissa was so embarassed by her parents that she told her friends she was a Christian. But she is a rare straight arrow. For most witch kids, equinox rituals and the sun god are their cultural heritage, like First Communion and the Virgin Mary are for Catholics.
In the Middle Ages, Deborah might have been burned at the stake. At the end of the millennium in California, she was invited to talk to Casey's class. Afterwards, the teacher heard a different parental complaint: "My child can't separate fantasy from reality -- he insists Casey's mom is a witch."
© 1999 Anne Hill, Diane Baker, Starhawk. All Rights reserved.
Updated February 6, 2000
* The above Excerpts are taken & presented without any edits mainly for informational purposes only. ~*~ LIGHT OF ATLANTIS ~*~ will not be responsible for any of its contents, misuses or abuses using the information presented. -
Fair is foul, and foul is fair.
Hover through the fog and the filthy air!
-- Macbeth
Folklore and Witchcraft: Allison Gross
By Katharine Briggs
Allison Gross, "the ugliest witch i the north country", allured the hero into her bower and made violent love to him, offering him various rich gifts if he would be her true love. He repulsed her advances uncompromisingly:
'Awa, awa, ye ugly witch,
Haud far awa, an lat me be;
I never will be your lemman sae true,
An I wish I were out o your company.'
At the third refusal she blew on a grass-green horn, struck him with a silver wand and spun round three times muttering ill words, so that his strength failed and he fell senseless on the ground:
'She's turnd me into an ugly worm,
And gard me toddle about the tree.'
His only solace was from his sister Maisry, who came ever Saturday night to wash and comb his locks. One night the Fairy Rade of the Seelie Court passed by and disenchanted him:
But as it fell out on last Hallow-even,
When the seely court was ridin by,
The queen lighted down on a gowany bank,
Nae far frae the tree where I wont to lye.
She took me up in her milk-white han,
An she's stroakd me three times oer her knee;
She chang'd me again to my ain proper shape,
An I nae mair maun toddle about the tree.
* The above Excerpts are taken from the Internet without any edits mainly for informational purposes only. ~*~ LIGHT OF ATLANTIS ~*~ will not be responsible for any of its contents, misuses or abuses using the information presented. -
Folklore and Witchcraft: The Black Dog
Traditional Tale from the Shetland Islands
A witch, desirous of injuring a neighbor, changed herself into a black dog and made her way into the neighbor's ben-end-o'-the-hoose, where she would certainly have created serious disturbance if an old man in the family had not recognized her by a peculiar formation of the eyelids, which, it seems, she could not discard from her canine appearance.
Seizing the tongs, the worthy patriarch brought them down upon the black dog's back with might and main. "Tak' doo yon, Minnie Merran (the witch's name), he cried, "an bear doo da weight o' dis auld airm as lang as doo leeves."
The dog ran howling and limping out of the house, and when next the witch was seen, she who hitherto had walked upright and with the dignity of a Norna, leant upon a stick, and had a hump upon her back. She said she had fallen from a height, and was afraid her spine was broken. But folk called it "the mark o' auld Jockie's taings."
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hard work huh? all about witches... 
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can i be a witch as beautiful as the Charmed ones..? or must i be toe-less, bald, etc like in the book?
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Merry Meet Again Dan,Originally posted by Danisdead101times: hard work huh? all about witches...
Well as long it is appreciated by all...i don't mind all the efforts to make this a platform for sharing...
Blessed Be,
Oceanos -
Merry Meet Audlenelee Sweetie,Originally posted by audlenelee:can i be a witch as beautiful as the Charmed ones..? or must i be toe-less, bald, etc like in the book?
Of coz you can be more alluring with some Glamoury... You wanna be witch should be able to if you seek my Guidance...ha ha ha The Charmed ones probably has practicioner of the Craft in them... Real Witches perhaps... hehehe...
Blessed Be,
Oceanos