Category Archives: Shamanism

Can Witchcraft Be Taught?

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SOLITARY WITCH by *RareEarthGallery

SOLITARY WITCH by *RareEarthGallery

This is a loaded subject and one for which there is a lot of debate and controversy. It will probably be highly unpopular with many who follow neo-pagan philosophies but, I felt it had to be said.  My opinion is purely my own and based on real life experiences of myself and my family.

First of all, let me state unequivocally that most occult practices, tenets, foundations and principles CAN be taught. Through studied research, discipline in practice and experimentation and perseverance, most any occult or magical practice can be instilled in a devoted student.

All things that are PRACTICAL in nature and deal with physical aspects of working with the Web are highly teachable and beneficial for most. The time frame may be different for each person depending on maturity, discipline and focus, but really, just like any science, the ‘technical’ aspects of Witchery are fairly standard with variances primarily due to culture, geographic region and nature of the Working.

But then, there is the other side of Crafting; the psychic, intuitive, clairvoyant, necromantic and premonitory side that can NOT be taught – that eccentricity and phantom side of Spirit; the obsessive component of a Worker’s personality that knocks her to the left of center, renders her mostly insane and drives her to distraction.  She is haunted and tormented by the Old Ones and the Old Ways and there is no escape.  This ‘possession’ and solitary pre-occupation with Witchery is what cannot be taught.  One is born with it, or not. It cannot be cultivated.

I love to paint. I have yearned to be an artist on the same level as the old masters with flawless techniques and breathtaking skill. I have to admit however, that I will never attain that level of adeptness. I am not a ‘born’ painter. I paint for enjoyment and self-gratification, but I am not ‘painterly’ in mind and Spirit. I am not obsessed with colour and form.  I read that Van Gogh was so in love and obsessed with colour, that he actually ‘nibbled’ on his oil paints¹, taking them in and trying to ingest their beauty.  That is the quirk, the plague and the torment. That incredible desire for complete surrender to one’s passion is what makes someone a true musician, a true painter, a true writer and a true Worker. Insanity is useful and I maintain, even necessary, to the Adept of any science, art or philosophy.

I have to be truthful and say that sometimes, I wish I could ‘unknow’ some of the things I know and change what I am.  There have been times in my life where I tried to shelve my practice and deny who I was. I did this to fit in, to make others around me happy and to conform to society’s ideal of the perfect wife and mother. My denial of self cost me dearly and destroyed much of what I was trying to protect. So it goes.  I am wiser for that experience, however, it has scarred me deeply and in that wounding, I hold my tradition and my practice all the more sacred.

If you feel you are ‘called’ to this Path, please be aware – those who enter the Way to dabble, just to ‘see what happens’ or those who are bored and looking for a distraction may find themselves in serious trouble. The Ancient Powers are in no way kind; They don’t forgive easily, nor do They suffer fools gladly. When you take that leap of faith and dive off into the deep end, you will be embraced, but not as a prodigal son or daughter, but as one of the Dark Faith. This is no watered down Craft, practiced by urban yuppies once a month on the Full Moon. This is serious business. This is the life-blood of the Ancients, the eternal hum of Aether.  It will cost you.  But did you really expect less?

What do we all hope to attain at the end of our lives? When the twilight comes for us, what will we have accomplished at our life’s end? I believe our paths, no matter how learned, no matter how gained, will all end at the same place – to remember ourselves in Death and to recall our life’s lessons; to have honoured our callings as given and our Gods with passion and devotion – to have always been ready to speak the truth and be honourable, even when not in fashion.

We are all called to be ourselves without reservation and to strive in our Spirits for unity with the Divine. Ultimately, THAT is the course of true learning and that is a calling for all.

As our will and intent is expressed, so may it be blessed by the Gods.  May our lives ever be an honour to Their presence.

¹http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh’s_health

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Shamanism: Experiencing Death Before You Die

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Mongolian Shaman

Mongolian Shaman - http://metal-gaia.com

In shamanistic cultures, death is to be reckoned with now, sooner, rather than later. One is to accept Death as a gift, one that holds countless blessings and untold wisdom. The Great Mother has decreed that all of us will experience it and all of us will cross the Blood River. Whether we do that now, in an altered state of consciousness, with our will and Fate accommodating or later, on our physical death beds with no choice, is up to us.

In ancient cultures, to truly be chosen as a shaman, one must literally die, and return. One must leave the body through illness, disease or trauma. The Spirit would then cross the River, make contact with the Spirit realm and return physically to inhabit the vessel on this physical plane. Needless to say, shamans were held in the highest esteem, for anyone who can die and actually physically return from the Shores of Death demonstrates great force of Spirit and body; it was not uncommon for many shamans to become mentally unstable and physically weak; some were accused of schizophrenia and paranoia, due to the stress, trauma and prolonged Spirit contact they had endured.

“Symbolic death and rebirth is a manifestation of the true Underworld Journey. Shamans perform this symbolic death and rebirth in a “state of ecstasy” deliberately induced by an effort of will. Reaching this altered state of consciousness requires great mental exertion, concentration and strict self-discipline. Mental and physical preparation includes long periods of silent meditation, sleep deprivation, heightened physical activity and fasting. In this state, skilled shamans employ capabilities that the human organism cannot carry out in the ordinary state. Shamans in ecstasy display unusual physical strength, the ability to withstand extreme temperatures, the bearing of stabbing and cutting without pain, and the heightened receptivity of the sense organs. Some shamans make use of intoxicating substances and hallucinogens, especially Psilocybin mushrooms, Ayahuasca and alcohol, as a means of hastening the attainment of ecstasy”.¹

In Norse mythology, Odin, (Woden/Woten) a shamanistic Norse war God and ruler of Asgard (upper realms) hung Himself upon the World Tree, Yggdrassil in His continuing quest for wisdom and secret knowledge. Rather than wait for the emissary of Death to chase Him, He sought it out first:

“I hung on that windy Tree nine whole days and nights, stabbed with a spear, offered to Odin, myself to mine own self given, high on that Tree of which none hath heard from what roots it rises to heaven. None refreshed me ever with food or drink, I peered right down in the deep; crying aloud, I lifted the Runes then, back I fell from thence.” – Hávámal

It has been discussed that when Odin killed His ‘ego-self’ by ‘peering right down in the deep’, He actually discovered Immortality and Ultimate Wisdom. He could then read, write and speak the Mysteries that had been hidden or kept secret (occult knowledge). Odin also performed another sacrifice for wisdom; He surrendered one of His physical eyes to the giant Mimir in order to drink from Mimir’s Well and become all-knowing and all-’seeing’. The physical loss was nothing compared to the spiritual and mental gains of Wisdom, Truth, Enlightenment and Remembrance in Death.

Through ‘techniques of ecstasy’ ²and trance states, one is able to symbolically die now, cross the Death River, and return with information vital for one’s self and for others. One becomes a wounded Healer, familiar with both Worlds and able to walk safely between them. With many gifts, come many sacrifices, as Odin symbolizes. Nothing is for free, not even in the Death Realms. ³

¹ Balzer, Marjorie,(1990). Shamanism: Soviet Studies of Traditional Religion in Siberia and Central Asia.

²Eliade, Mircea, (1972). Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy.

³de Vries, Eric, (2008). Hedgerider.

 

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Spirit Animals – Guides for Our Lives

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Brown Recluse Spider
Richard S. Vetter ©University of California Riverside

Being raised as I was with Mesoamerican and Native American influences, I was taught from an early age about the importance of Spirit Animals or Animal Guides, what some today in Neo-Pagan circles call ‘totems’.  Actually, the word totem for an individual symbol is a misnomer, as a totem typically describes a symbol that represents an entire tribe, clan or community.

When I was about 7 years old, I was bitten by a Brown Recluse spider, which can be deadly.  My dad said that the Spirit of the Spider had chosen me. I feel honored to have been chosen in such a manner.  It is said that when your Spirit Animal comes to you, you will be changed. Your outlook, demeanor, character and soul are transformed by the Power of the Animal, Insect or Reptile that has taken up a home in your soul. I have found this to be true.

For those not accustomed to utilizing Animal Spirits, the philosophy can seem ‘primitive’ or backward.  This is depressing, because the Ancients recognized the fact that Spirits infuse and inhabit each Animal, Plant, Mineral and Insect that exists; in fact everything in Creation has Its own Spirit. Each one of the Great Mother’s creations pulse with a passion and character uniquely Their own.  To be granted a Spirit Animal and to be recognized by One is to be honoured by the Mother and by the entire Web of Her Universe.

At the risk of offending many, I have to be true to what I was taught and state that just because you have a ‘liking’ for ravens or you enjoy the sounds of frogs, does not mean that a raven or a frog is your Spirit Animal.  For you to embody the Power, Force and Mindset of another Creature, there must be an ‘energy transference’; a distinct acknowledgement by the Spirit Animal and yourself of a deep, abiding connection.  In the past, Shamans would kill and eat the heart or brain of the freshly killed animal to ingest the mental or spiritual qualities of that animal. The meat alone wouldn’t suffice. It had to be the organ that carried the characteristic desired by the Shaman.

Alternatively, one can be bitten or wounded by the Animal Itself.  A transference of venom or saliva is a highly potent act of magical contagion that transfers the Powers and Influences of the Animal to the human.  This is also done with Plant Spirits, when we ingest herbs or other plants that help ‘alter’ our perceptions and ways of thinking. We are linking with the plant, Spirit to Spirit.

There are cases where ‘non-physical’ transferences can occur. These are those deep, soul-changing exchanges where you gaze into the eyes of the Other, not blinking, not moving, but relishing and devouring each other’s Spiritual and intangible essences.

You are walking in the woods or along a deserted path and you come across a fox. You both stand, staring, not flinching, for what seems like an eternity, neither of you turning away, each delving into the Heart of the Other.  There is a definite spiritual transference at that point.

Non-physical transfers can also occur during a deep trance or meditative state, where you meet your Animal Guide in the astral and you form an impenetrable bond.  These non-physical states of transference can occur, but are less common than one might think.

Sometimes, your Animal Guide may be one you are not even drawn to or admire. I believe the Guides choose us, not the other way around.  You will be dishonouring the Spirit of the Animal chosen for you if One is sent and you discard Its presence because It isn’t ‘pretty’ or it isn’t what you had in mind.  Sometimes what we need isn’t always what we ask for or what our preconceived notions may imagine.

I have found it true that typically, the Spirit Animal will be shown or come to you in times of mental, physical or spiritual distress. When our own reserves are weakened, the Great Mother in Her kindness brings to us an Earthly Power that helps supplement and gird up our own.  When I was bitten, my home life was in a critical state of alcoholism and physical violence.  Sister Spider gave me the insight to remain quiet, to be observant, to stay in the shadows and to seize favourable opportunities when they came across my path. She helped me to survive my chaotic childhood. I use Her skills to this very day.

There is no great mystery or ritual to gaining a Spirit Animal. If you are open, if your intent is sincere and you pray to your Deity or to your Spirits, if you need one, one will appear to you. You must be observant, quiet and pay attention to your surroundings.  If you don’t experience a physical transference, don’t worry.  Sometimes Animal Guides come into our lives not as life-long companions but as short-term tutors, helping us recognize a deficiency in our lives or way of being.  Their lessons are swift and They leave our lives as quickly as they enter.  We need to be attentive so we don’t miss the lesson; so that Their appearance is not wasted on the hard of heart or stubborn of mind.

Be open then.  If you feel you are being called, have an open Heart. Pray. Meditate.  Be attentive. For your Animal Guide will come to you. Whether through the forests, through the deserts, through the oceans, through the air or crawling across the ground, They will find you.  Be grateful and honour Them and strive to be deserving of Their presence in your life.

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The Pythia – Serpent Woman of the Gods

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Pythia, the Priestess. Photo courtesy of Matt Baldwin-Ives.

The voice of Divine madness is one most cherished, most sought  and also most feared.  In that altered state of consciousness where insanity meets the Divine and the thoughts of the Gods are manifest, in this secret place lies great wisdom. Shamans of old sought it out with vengeance and when found,  brought back the knowledge and shared it with their people.

“I count the grains of sand on the beach and measure the sea
I understand the speech of the mute and hear the voiceless”.

- Delphic Oracle {Herodotus, I, 47}

The Pythia of Delphi, an Oracle of the Gods, was such a woman in whom Divine madness was welcomed. The scholar Martin Litchfield West writes that the Pythia shows many traits of ancient shamanistic practices, likely inherited or influenced from central Asia, although there is no evidence of any central Asian association at this time. (1)

The name ‘Pythia’ is derived from Pytho, which in Greek myth was the original name of Delphi. The Greeks derived this name from the verb, pythein (“to rot”), which refers to the decomposition of the body of the monstrous Python (She-Dragon) after she was slain by Apollo. (2)  Through this decomposition, gases were emitted from the ‘body’ of the slain Serpent. It was this vapour that the Pythia inhaled.

The Priestess would sit in a tripod chair, above a chasm in the Earth. As the hot gases rose, the Oracle would breathe in deeply and hold the fumes within. She would enter a trance and from this altered state, would chant prophesies, guidance and counsel to her querents. From her dark, underground chamber, her voice would echo, in songs and utterances sometimes unintelligible.

Plutarch, a priest at the Delphic Temple, recorded that as the Spirit’s breathed into the Pythia, she would give off a ‘sweet fragrance’, the breath and lust of the Gods. (3)

It was a great honour to be chosen as an Oracle. Typically, the Pythias were chosen from a guild of Temple priestesses. Even if married with maternal concerns, the priestess would leave all familial responsibilities behind. Her earthly family no longer took precedence. The women left the family home and did not return.

Plutarch records that the life span of an Oracle was shortened due to the exhaustive nature of housing the Gods. After each prophetic session, the Pythia would be feverish, flushed and weak. Due to the strain and untimely deaths of many of the Oracles, it became necessary to alternate them. Typically, there were three Oracles at any one time, with 2 alternating as Prophetess and one on reserve, in case of their deaths. (4)

In order to speak like a God, one must become like a God. Our mortal body, our ego, must be shoved aside. There is no room for self-doubt or humanistic limitations. We empty ourselves of our flawed humanity and become vessels for the Divine. We become the Chosen One, a mouthpiece for Deity.

People of our modern time lack the individual sacrifice and obsession for the Divine that many of our Ancients had. Perhaps that why the Gods sometime seem so silent. I believe it is not They who will not speak, but we who will not hear. To regain our lost selves, to find that God-like place within, we must die to self, we must empty our hearts and minds and partake of Death. We must become vessels. We must be empty to be filled. Let us all become Oracles.

References:

(1) West, Litchfield Martin. The Orphic Poems, p.147. “The Pythia resembles a shamaness at least to the extent that she communicates with her [deity] while in a state of trance, and conveys as much to those present by uttering unintelligible words. [cf. Spirit Language, Mircea Eliade]. It is particularly striking that she sits on a cauldron supported by a tripod, reiterating the triad of the great goddess. This eccentric perch can hardly be explained except as a symbolic boiling, and, as such, it looks very much like a reminiscence of the initiatory boiling of the shaman translated from hallucinatory experience into concrete visual terms. It was in this same cauldron, probably, that the Titans boiled Dionysus in the version of the story known to Callimachus and Euphorion, and his remains were interred close by”.

(2) Homeric Hymn to Apollo. 363-369.

(3) Plutarch. On the Decline of the Oracles (De Defectu Oraculorum) and On the Oracles of Pythia (De Pythiae Oraculis) in Moralia, Volume 5, Harvard University Press.

(4) Dashu, Max. The Pythias, Secret History of the Witches. 2009.

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