Spirited (28 page)

The ties of perfection are not flawless in that they remain untouched by the dilemmas of emotional friction; rather, they are flawless in that they are completely human, vulnerable to destruction and yet wholly ingrained in the conscience. They exist beyond the immaturity of personal dispute. The ties become something of value, an eternal force that we feel we must live up to. It transforms its subtle impression into a grand honour—something we must pursue in order to feel spiritually fulfilled. It touches the heart and plays with the mind, enthusing the body and exciting the soul. These are the bonds of the coven, and they resonate a profound depth of being, instilled in the essence of the group's collective unconscious in perfect love and perfect trust.

[contents]

Witchcraft, Wicca, and Paganism are among the fastest-growing spiritualities in the Western world. Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have all experienced a rapid percentage growth in people identifying as Wiccans, Witches, Pagans, etc., as accounted by census records. In fact, between the years 1996 and 2001, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported a 373.5 percent growth in individuals identifying as Witches within Australia (excluding Wiccans and other Pagans). Other Western countries have reported similar results. With such interest in Nature-based faiths in this modern world, how could the existing groups and covens possibly cater to each individual? Thus the new generation of Pagans embraces a new (and probably older) experience of living the Pagan spirituality.

The Craft of Solitude, promoted by the works of Scott Cunningham, Marian Green, and Rae Beth, is a wild path, one in which the dangers of literalism, passivity, and misinformation flourish. However, there is a great deal of self-evaluation, spiritual growth, and character development that stems from celebrating the Pagan paths independently. Many are dissatisfied with the traditional hierarchical structures of the various covens around. Others are simply happy on their own, self-educating and learning from texts, social contacts, and websites, as well as from communion with Nature and the gods.

Whether you are solitary by circumstance or by nature, this chapter will help you to reflect on the path before you, on the simple truths of wandering, and on the methods of learning and teaching oneself.

Tackling Theory:
A Guide for the Solitary

One of the most common pitfalls the solitary encounters is that of self-education. The most obvious of methods for learning is reading, and there is no shortage of texts out there to assist you. However, there is often a tendency to accept what books say as gospel rather than critically analyse and interpret the information in order to apply what is factual and practical to one's path. For instance, let's say you picked up a book which claimed that Wicca is a survival of the old folk religion of Spain and that Gerald Gardner was simply a masochistic charlatan who professed to inherit the Craft from a made-up coven. Imagine that you believe everything that the author of this book has said, and you begin to preach the word on every Pagan forum you are on. Immediately, there will be a catastrophic backlash and no doubt several obscenities thrown at you along the way. You, in your innocence, are berated and belittled by people who have a greater understanding of the history and lineage of Wicca. They will say “I have read this book” and explain to you that they concluded, from
historical inaccuracies and
a lack of bibliographical detail, that the author is simply a misled conspiracy theorist. You, in response, humbly state your shock and step down from your soapbox while simultaneously cancelling your membership with the forum and losing all confidence in yourself.

In the past, I have frequented several Pagan online forums, and I can tell you that there are certainly debates concerning such issues, and there are usually one or two persistent individuals who will simply not relent to fact and instead seek to uphold a defunct mythology.

Learning from books is not without its dangers; unfortunately, there is not much we can do to stop the flow of published texts whose authors pass on prepackaged crap. More and more, however, there is an interest in uncovering the truth and pursuing fact. But rather than setting yourself up, why not be willing to learn the truth and to develop your own ability at sorting wheat from chaff?

Paganism has become a deeply theoretical study for some. No longer are things simple; there is now so much variation and scholarly integrity that finding what you want is a complicated task in itself.

So why is theory important to Paganism? Obviously, with all this talk of emotions, psychology, metaphysics, and the deeply attuned celebration of Nature, the significance of theory in our community should be of little concern. But it is not, and the belief that it should be is simply a hangover from a society that relishes playing God to the point where more harm is done than good.

For Pagans, connections are vital and divine. Theory and practice are interwoven and support each other. What use is there in a spirituality in which the customs and practices have no theoretical basis, no practical application? This is why Paganism and science are mutually compatible. The nature of Paganism is that of exploration, evolving, and opening up.

As young people, we are all sick of having to live through the theory of what could potentially be a fun subject. I wish I could have danced and painted all day without having had to resort to thick texts about artists and choreographers I have no care for. But after a moment of contemplation, I am grateful that I had the opportunity to learn about dance and art (and whatever else!) in a theoretical way, because it enriches the experience of doing those things in a practical sense and opens my mind to a very interesting and stimulating world of facts, history, and culture.

What type of theory should a Pagan seek to study? What is seen as vital in securing a sound foundation of knowledge in Paganism? The extensive scope of topics that Paganism underlies today is far too vast to delve into; therefore, it is essential for us to break things up and direct our focus on different aspects at different times.

As this book is designed to cater to Pagans who are beyond the basics and who live their Magick, it is up to you to embrace areas of personal interest and deepen your understanding of each. Paganism is an undulating interplay of energy and expertise that shapes the mind and sings to the heart.

It is important to have a firm knowledge of our:

History:
Observe the scientific methods of archaeology, anthropology, sociology, and psychology in order to deepen your understanding of our past and where we have come from. Honour ancestry, and remember.

M
agickal Theory
:
This includes studying various occult sciences, including gnosis, the Qabalah, Ceremonial and Chaos Magick, Hermetic Magick, etc. It is also essential to be familiar with the simple practicality
of Folk Magick and the rich tapestry of tradition involved in the Craft of the Witch.

Society and Community
:
Become aware of interfaith issues, governmental policy (past and present), political and social activism, feminism, and environmental issues.

Traditions
:
Delve into the diversity of tradition—Wiccan initiatory traditions, solitary practitioners, reconstructionism, and literary-inspired groups (e.g., The Church of All Worlds).

Theology and Philosophy:
Ditheism, polytheism, pantheism, animism, archetypes, the Universal Spirit, consciousness, the Self,
“Thou art God/dess,”
life and death, Nature, neutrality, yin and yang, polarity.

Ethics and Morality
:
Karma, cause and effect, the Golden Rule, “Harm none,” respect, pro-circumstance/choice, labelled ethical inclinations (e.g., White Witch/Black Witch).

There is so much diversity and individuality that it seems dangerous to categorise all of the above as Pagan; however, through consensual association, personal identification, and principle commonalities, there is a unity that joins us.

If you are having trouble accessing information or fathoming anything from it, then social networking is a rewarding way to open yourself up to greater learning. By collaborating with others of like mind and similar experience, you have ground to develop your theory. Gradually, you will find that you will have grown accustomed to criticising almost every bit of information you absorb, but remember not to become bitter or rampantly destructive in your analysis. Authors and scholars are people, too, and they can make mistakes.

You must also be able to identify the degree of professionalism and integrity that goes into a work. A lack of reference notation and bibliographical support leads many readers to suspect foul play. However, it all depends on the text and the author's ability to use reason to support their purposes. For example, the bibliography in the back of this book is concise, and this is because this book is purely a spiritual and philosophical exploration of Pagan living. But in a book of a more academic nature, it is generally anticipated that there will be a thorough bibliography. When we absorb information, we must be objective but also passionately sympathetic and receptive, or whatever the case may be.

Authors and their books also fulfil another lesser-known role. Books are wellsprings of knowledge and reflection. They are speculative bondages of paper and ink that speak of ideas, concepts, and patterns in the fabric of our reality. In this, they are the perpetrators of ideas that already sit comfortably inside of us. For instance, many of my instinctive ideas concerning the nature of the elements were answered in books before I had the ability to articulate such matters. It is to such insights that many Pagans pay their respects. Paganism runs through the spirit like blood.

The vast majority of Pagans nowadays are successfully able to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to information. Our personal contributions to global discussions on web forums and mailing lists, and even on a more regional scale, are helping to develop a solid foundation of knowledge and wisdom for those to come.

The Pagan community will truly benefit from what has become a unique trait among us: we are priests, we are divine, and now we are scholars. It is up to the individual to make diligent use of their research skills and to apply the mental and emotional faculties to a wealth of wisdom.

Wisdom is not the fool's handmaiden, nor does it belong to those who are careless and negligent. Wisdom is on equal terms with those who respect its depth and honour the principles upon which it is based. With that in mind, I hope I have at least motivated you to reread some of the classics and regard them in a new light.

Nostalgic Rites:
Memoirs from the Unconscious

Nostalgia opens doors to the senses at random. It can come upon us at any time it chooses, even in the darkest hour of night while you quietly await the dawn. It crashes through the conclaves of denial and self-pity, releasing anxiety and self-loathing to the winds. Nostalgia is the guide of the hidden memoirs we all store in our personal libraries.

Paganism emphasises the importance of living in the present and rejects dwelling in the past and fatalism. We are encouraged, as Pagans, to embrace the moment and to fully awaken to life—its powerful continuity and paradoxes. As solitaries, the Nostalgic Rite is the threshold of personal and intimate initiation—the catalyst for great change. It is the slightest glimmer that enchants the mind and possesses the senses, ultimately stimulating the unfolding of overwhelming memories, feelings, and experiences.

The following is simply a pondering, a meaningful reflection and attempt at capturing, distilling, and suspending the
Nostalgic
Rite. Through it, perhaps, you may discover the essence and song of my soul.

Laughter. Soft, timeless, and utterly entrenched in the archaic elegance of the wind's currents. It floated to his ears as if by an intent sharper than any conceived by mortal minds. Simple and pure, a sacred rendering of the essence Spirit itself comprised.

What is it that plays so persistently at me
…
that removes the gauze of the woven dreaming from my shadow-pooled soul
?
He pondered as his thoughts began to rearrange and submit to the scrutiny of consciousness.
Neither of this world or the other, and yet shall it remain just beyond, in the periphery of darkness, within the magnificent stitchwork of the light.
Perhaps it was another speaking. An elfin figure; regal, pretentious, lawfully arrogant? The cunning, stealthy gnomes of the reclusive caverns?
No
…
the guardians do not beckon me at this hour
…
This is the gods that stir me.

The rusting metal grated and squandered in protest as a stream issued forth from the tap. Gradually, as courage stormed his heart, he proudly lifted his head. Startled by the reflection, the youth stumbled, reaching for the sink. Even and finely textured, an ancient face stared back. Hair so naturally delicate; eyes of diligence and marked passion; full lips curved to the rhythm of his dry wit. Features so exquisitely engraved that in that moment of untainted freedom there had been the truth of beauty framed in mortal skin. Egocentricity was unimagined and a cloak of humility woven from the threads of an unconscious landscape had settled around his broad shoulders. Moving from the bathroom, he gazed through a hallway window and reprimanded himself for remaining inside.