A Pledge to Pagan Spirituality

A Pledge to Pagan Spirituality

I am a Pagan and I dedicate myself to channeling the
Spiritual Energy of my Inner Self to help and to heal
myself and others.

I know that I am part of the Whole of Nature. May I
grow in understanding of the Unity of all Nature. May
I always walk in Balance.

May I always be mindful of the diversity of Nature as
well as its Unity and may I always be tolerant of those
whose race, appearance, sex, sexual preference, culture,
and other ways different from my own.

May I use the Force (psychic power) wisely and never
use it for aggression nor for malevolent purposes. May
I never direct it to curtail the free will of another.

May I always be mindful that I create my own reality
and that I have the power within me to create positivity
in my life.

May I always act in honorable ways: being honest with
myself and others, keeping my word whenever I have given
it, fulfilling all responsibilities and commitments I
have taken on to the best of my ability.

May I always remember that whatever is sent out always
returns magnified to the sender. May the Forces of
Karma move swiftly to remind me of my spiritual commitments
when I have begun to falter from them, and may I use
this Karmic feedback to help myself grow and be more
attuned to my Inner Pagan Spirit.

May I always remain strong and commited to my Spiritual
ideals in the face of adversity and negativity. May the
Force of my Inner Spirit ground out all malevolence
directed my way and transform it into positivity. May
my Inner Light shine so strongly that malevolent forces
cannot even approach my sphere of existence.

May I always grow in Inner Wisdom and Understanding.
May I see every problem that I face as an opportunity
to develop myself spiritually in solving it.

May I always act out of Love to all other beings on
this Planet - to other humans, to plants, to animals,
to minerals, to elementals, to spirits, and to other
entities.
May I always be mindful that the Goddess and God in all
their forms dwell within me and that this divinity is
reflected through my own Inner Self, my Pagan Spirit.

May I always channel Love and Light from my being.
May my Inner Spirit, rather than my ego self, guide
all my thoughts, feelings, and actions.

SO MOTE IT BE!

The Wiccan Rede

The Wiccan Rede
(Introduction)

Hear now the words of the witches,
The secrets we hid in the night,
When dark was our destiny's pathway,
Which now we bring forth into light.

This world,then, has no right to know it,
And the world of beyond will tell naught,
For the oldest of gods is invoked there,
And the Great Work of magick is wrought.

So do what ye will be the challenge,
And be it in love that harm none,
For this is the only commandment,
By the magick of Old, it is done.

The Rede
(Full Version)

Bide the Wiccan law ye must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live ye must, and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

For tread the circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be spoke in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak ye little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,
Let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
And the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak, then thy heart's desire seek.

Heed the North wind's mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss thee on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will then find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.


Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's insight.
Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to thine eye.

Hazel—the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of the Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

Elder be ye Lady's tree, burn it not or cursed ye'll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.
(pronounced sow-wen)
When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lammas night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule, light the log the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day, time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached its height, time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed ye'll be.

Where the rippling waters go, cast a stone, the truth ye'll know.
When you have and hold a need, hearken not to others' greed.

With a fool no season spend nor be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part brights the cheeks and warms the heart.

Mind the Three-fold laws ye should, three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love this ye must do unless thy love is false to you.
These eight words the Rede fulfill:
“And ye harm none, do what ye will.”

Spell Writing

Writing your own spells

The following is a short "recipe" for writing One's own spells and
Rituals.
It includes many questions One will need to answer before working on
the spell.

**Know the Basics!
**Know what Magick is!
**Know different ways to raise, direct and ground Energy.
**Know how to cast a Magik Circle.
**Know how to open a Circle.
**Know the basic outline of a spell.

**Know the Intent or Purpose.
What is it One is trying to do?
Heal an illness?
Increase One's concentration?
Bring love into One's life?
Sell a house?
Celebrate a Sabbat?
Before One can begin any Magickal working, One should have a firm
grasp on what outcome One is seeking.

**Know the Best Time to Work the Spell.
Does One know what type of Magik should be worked during the waning
moon, and what type during the waxing moon?
What type of Magik is best worked on the full moon?
The new moon?
What days of the week are best for what types of Magik?
Learn how the Moon phases, and days of the week affect Magikal
workings so One will know when to work the spell.

**Know Correspondences.
Learn which colors will bring what results.
Learn a little about herbalism; which herbs can be used for what
Magickal purposes.
Learn about Image Magik and how it works.
Learn about Elemental Magik; which elements can be used for what
types of Magik.

Basic Working Spell Outline

**Ritual Preparation
Choose a time. Decide the intent. Choose an aspect of the Divine, if
One has wish. Decide how to raise energy (ie: dance, chanting,
drumming, etc.) Choose how to cast and close the circle.

**Cleanse Oneself and the Magickal space.
One can do this with a Ritual bath for Oneself, or through meditation
to still and focus the mind.
One can cleanse individual space with a Magickal broom, or with
incense or burning herbs.

**Cast the Circle




**Invocation to the Power

**Statement of Purpose
This is simply to tell the Power why One has called Him/Her to the
Circle; what One is trying to accomplish.

**Magickal Working
Raise Energy, through soft chanting, drumming or the use of
harmonious Magik music.
Direct or channel this Energy by using candles, herbs, stones or
whatever other correspondences One finds to fit the specific need.
Ground One's Energy when One has completed the working.

Spells and Formulas Worksheet

Date and Time Made: ______________________________________________

Time and Date Performed: _________________________________________

Type of Spell and Formula: _______________________________________

Colors: __________________________________________________________

Day of Week: _____________________________________________________

Astrological Phase: ______________________________________________

Moon Phase: ______________________________________________________

Specific Purpose: ________________________________________________

Deities: _________________________________________________________

Ingredients and/or Supplies Needed:
Herbs: _______________________________________________________

Oils: ________________________________________________________

Stones and/or Crystals: ______________________________________

Incenses: ____________________________________________________

Other: _______________________________________________________

Specific Location Required: ______________________________________

Instructions: ___________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Spell Words/Chants: _____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Spell Results/Outcomes: _____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Walking the Talk, Talking the Walk

The following is a blog that was sent to my by a very dear friend who is no longer with us on this plane.

Walking The Talk, Talking the Walk
® Atreyumichael

Being a Witch is more than just calling yourself a Witch.

Most everyone is probably familiar with the trials of the Religious Right in the last 30 years or so. Spiritual leaders and Televangelists, all of them preaching ultra conservative morals, seemed to fall one by one.

Extra marital affairs, tax problems, fraud, gay sex, and combinations of those and other moral quagmires seemed to trip up all those who railed against “moral corruption” in our country and its people. The louder they yelled, or the more extreme their views, the harder they seemed to fall.

One very well known Televangelist years ago, even went so far as to proclaim that if people didn’t send him ten million dollars, that “God will call me home”. The implication being that he would die if he didn’t raise the money.

Now what, you may ask, does this have to do with being a Witch? I use the above as extreme examples of what a Witch does not do. A Witch does not brag about what he or she is capable of either spiritually, or Magickally. A Priest or Priestess does not tell others what they should or should not do. A Witch simply doesn’t need to.

The only personal affairs that a Witch is concerned with, are his or her own. That is the lesson that most who claim the title of Witch, never seem to learn. Have you ever watched as one of those Televangelists shouts from the pulpit and points out over the congregation, telling them how they shouldn’t be doing this, or should be doing that?

A friend and Priest once pointed out that every time you point at someone else, and say what they are doing wrong, you have one finger pointed at them, and three fingers pointed back at yourself. Televangelists seem to do a lot of pointing.

Every time you point out another’s shortcomings or failings, you are also pointing out your own. You may not have the same failings as that person, but the simple act of pointing them out, shows off your own. You have no control over anyone but yourself. The only person you can change is you.

One of the biggest problems I’ve seen in the Pagan Community is that of finger pointing. One person doesn’t like another, so they point and whisper to their friend how bad that person is. Whether good or bad it makes no difference, you are a Witch, and a Witch is better than that. A Witch does not go around spreading rumors and hinting innuendo about others.

So what then does a Witch do to cause change in others? A true Witch inspires others to change their behavior through example. I know, that’s not nearly as exciting, nor as much fun as attacking someone’s character, but attacking another without just cause is not the Witch’s way. A Witch remembers at all times, that they are a Priest or Priestess first and foremost.

That is not easy. It is human nature to call attention to the failings of those you don’t get along with. We’ve been doing it all our lives. On the play ground at school, there were bullies, who picked fights with those they didn’t like. Pointing out another’s shortcomings is just the adult version of bullying.

Anyone who was raised as a Christian knows the Golden Rule. “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.” What a marvelous idea! But the Witch knows how to work with subtlety and intent. More appropriate to a Witch would be, “Do unto yourself, as you would have others do unto you.”

The Silver Branch

Looking back over my life, it seems a most unlikely possibility that I would be interested in Druidic spirituality. However, everything in my past seems to have been leading me to this path all along.

Let's start at the beginning. I was born into a southern family. My father was of Scots/Irish descent. He was also a southern baptist minister deeply rooted in what is called the Bible belt of both North and South Carolina. So, for me, I grew up a "preacher's kid" or "pk" for short. Sometimes, I would get teased that preachers' children were "meaner" than other children. I always retorted back that it was because preachers' children played with deacons' children.

At age 15, I met my first real boyfriend. He followed a path other than Christianity. I was fascinated. Christianity was all I had ever known. I had heard and read about other religions. However, I lived a somewhat sheltered life. To even think of following another path, let alone to actually do so was a foreign idea to me. All my life, up until that point, I was taught that Christianity was the only way. Dabbling in Wicca and witchcraft was something "naughty" and "evil". I wasn't supposed to do that, much like the child trying not to get caught with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar before dinner. Still, I was very much interested and I began practicing in secret. This lasted for a couple of years maybe. I thought it was perhaps a teenage "phase". But, no, it wasn't. I kept going back to the practice.

A few years after that , I met my husband. He was also an up and coming Baptist preacher. By that time, I had become immersed in my practices. I had a decision to make. I could either lay aside the practice and marry him or turn his proposal of marriage. As I did love him, I laid aside the practice, but not completely; at least not the nature side of it.

Several years ago my husband and I separated. Some of the things I had heard preached and read about in the Bible a Christian should not do, he did. This caused me to question my Christian path. The church that should have been a support to me at that time really wasn't. Their solution to our problem was to recommend a divorce care class and the name of a good lawyer. I, therefore, turned my back on the church. I have never left God, but I did change religious paths.

Consequently, Wicca called me back. One morning while in my house meditating, I heard the Goddess call my name. She then told me to come home. After that experience, I began researching different aspects of the religion. I gained much knowledge which only made me thirst for more knowledge. My studies led me to a shamanic path, which in turn led me to my present boyfriend, who of all people is a native american shaman. What better way to learn shamanistic teachings that from an actual Shaman! Ever since returning to an earth-based religion, additional knowledge has come to me at the time I have needed it just like meeting my Shaman boyfriend when I began studying the Shamanic path.

Shortly after this, I began longing to know more of my heritage, especially of my father's Celtic background. The more I researched, the more I was drawn to the path of the druid. I now feel fulfilled in a way that Christianity could not do. I feel I have found something worth keeping. I am looking forward to learning more. As I said before, I did not lay aside nature. I love being out in nature and being a part of it, although I do have some physical limitations that do not allow for much hiking anymore. In my old home, I had a meditation space in a small wooded area behind my house. I felt so connected there. It was such a connection, that when I discovered someone had cut my North tree, I literally cried for the tree. I could feel its pain (some would think me nuts for that one). The tree grew back, but nonetheless, there was a scar in my heart that my sacred space was violated in such a manner.

Is Druidism relevant today? You bet it is. For me, it is not just a religion. It is also a way of assuring that nature is treated with respect. I am drawn to it because of nature and my background. But, druidic spirituality can also teach one how to be at peace. All one has to do is to be quiet and listen. A in the Wiccan Rede, "speak ye little, listen much." Besides the songs of the birds and rustling of leaves, I hear silent messages of guidance in the gentle winds and breezes through the trees. I hope that by studying the druid path, I will also gain a better understanding of nature and how it applies to me. I believe this is the journey in my life that I have should have taken all along.