Big Things are Happening!

I haven't posted much lately, but that is largely because I have been so incredibly busy for the last few months. HUGE projects are in the works with me, and I'd love to share with you about them.

Liber Qayin -- A New Gospel for Witches

First off, Glaux and I released a book in August called Liber Qayin. It is a channeled work that we received in two sessions. We were told by Tubal Qayin, the Witchfather and deliverer of magic to mortals, that we were to open ourselves up to this work. Then, we each received the words of the Black and White Goddesses. A few days later, I received His message.

Skeptical? I would be, too. I WAS, in fact. I often tread very carefully around folks who claim to be the mouthpiece of the Gods. I tend to be cynical and wonder how much of their own filters are coloring the words. Like a true skeptic, though, I accept that anything is possible.

Reading back over the words that came through Natalie and I, not much seems like a personal agenda of either of ours. Several of the sections challenged both of our perceptions, but ALL of it rings True to us. This is the message of Magic -- and of Love. It is the story of our souls. It is the Genesis of the Craft.

This book is available in print and PDF versions from Asteria Books. (And I want to extend a special thanks to my friend John Birkel for supplying the *gorgeous* cover art!)


The Witches' Key to the Legion: A Guide to Solomonic Sorcery

I have to thank John again for his amazing artwork. He not only created the cover art, but he also illustrated 10 of the spirits described within this work.

The Witches' Key to the Legion is a project that Natalie and I have been working on for a little over a year now. We each work with familiar spirits who hail from within the ranks of the Legion (the spirits that are often collectively called the Goetia). In talking with my familiar, we became increasingly aware of their hatred of spirit abuse as advocated by most of the authors who write about demonic magic. (I've written here before about daemons and the misapprehensions that most people harbor on that topic.)

We were both moved to explore the Legion further -- to discover better ways of working with the spirits listed there and to get a good understanding of who they were. To say that my familiar was enthusiastic in leading us into this research would be an understatement. We (Natalie, my familiar, and I) proceeded to embark on a four-month-long series of talking board sessions in which we discussed each of the 72 spirits, the creation of the Legion, the meanings behind the seals, and the nature of God (and His Adversary). We had now idea how much our worldview would change when we started this project -- or how fierce we would become regarding the treatment of these spirits.

The Witches' Key is about to be released (as soon as I've reviewed the proof) in the next several days. It, too, will be available in paperback and PDF versions. Look for illustrations by John Birkel and Natalie Black as well as alternate sigils for almost all 72 spirits.


Aphrodite's Eyes: A Cowrie Divination System

Some of you will have seen my last blog post in which I share the basics of a divination system which I've been developing over the last year and a half. I posted the basics, and that is certainly enough for interested readers to begin with. However, I am working on writing up a full booklet that will provide some insights into the verses and a few sample readings.

Once it is done it will be available through Asteria Books in (you guessed it) paperback and PDF.


Midian Festival and Event Grounds

On a non-publishing note, my family and a group of close friends have been working like mad to get a new event venue up and running for the 2014 festival season.

Here is the press-release we posted a couple of weeks ago:

Midian, a new festival and event venue located in Lawrence County, Indiana, is currently in preparations to open their gates for their 2014 festival season.

The grounds of Midian cover 21 acres of primitive woodlands in South-Central Indiana. By the time of the venue's first event, scheduled for early/mid June 2014, Midian will feature hot/cold rinse stations, a performance stage, several temporary pavilions, electricity in the main event areas, a bonfire ring, several acres of shaded campsites, and well-maintained restroom facilities.

Midian's owners intend to implement a staged development plan. Such developments will likely include several permanent indoor and outdoor meeting facilities, a fully operational kitchen, a lending library, permanent restroom facilities, and more.

The gates will open to the public in April 2014, with the first event being held June 12-16, 2014.

For more information, or to book your event at Midian, please email admin@campmidian.com.

 

My Little Demon

I have just recently started talking with folks about the fact that I "meddle with the Goetia." It seems and* daemonic sorceress? Sure! Why not?

this is surprising information for folks -- even for people who know me fairly well. Priestess of Aphrodite *

Natalie and I have both written about familiars, especially spirit (non-coropreal) familiars. As I wrote in one of those posts:

The word "angel" comes from the Greek ἄγγελος pronounced "angelos", which means messenger. "Demon" also comes from the Greek --  δαίμων pronounced daímōn, meaning nothing more or less than "spirit."  Neither was inherently benevolent, nor was the other malevolent. Can they be? Sure. I bet you can be nasty, too.

I went on to say that we feel that spirit conjuration (what can rightly be called "demonic conjuration") is a long-standing practice in the sort of sorcerous witchcraft that is practiced by people like us. Check out the American Folkloric Witchcraft blog for a better idea of the Craft we practice.

So, here we are, contacting helpful spirits through our talking board, and specifically getting in touch with the spirits who want to work with us. In a session by myself, I first spoke to the spirit I simply call "S." I learn right away that she is a spirit of the Goetia. I learn relatively soon that this spirit had been with me as a teenager as my beloved cat. I piece together that the spirit I had seen in my living room (and the black ghost cat my entire family and some roommates have seen) is also her. And I learn in the last month or so that she is included in Dee & Kelley's Enochian (angelic magick) tablets as one of the "Daughters of the Daughters of Light" -- listed there simply as S.

She's been with me since I was 17, and I have felt her presence for a very long time. She has taught me so much about Spirit (and about daemons, specifically). She has been a partner to Natalie and I as we undertook a hefty writing project -- The Witches' Key: The Sorcery of Solomonic Magick. This book is "the Goetia on the Goetia." (I'm working on formatting it now, and Natalie is working on illustrations. I'd like to have it done by the end of the summer, but that might be a stretch. Let's say: done by Samhain.)

I'd love to write and talk more about spirits here, for those who are interested. Expect a post or two on the topic as I continue working on this project.

We are fleshy spirits. Spiritual beings having a human experience.

PBP - F is for Familiars

I'm not necessarily talking about your favorite kitty, Miss Witch.

Okay, in one respect, I *could* be talking about your favorite kitty, but let's be really up-front that when a Witch talks about a "spirit known to her" -- a familiar spirit -- that isn't a historical implication of the household cat. In fact, as Judika Illes points out in her massive volume Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, cats weren't even the most likely animals to be a witch's corporeal familiar in the Middle Ages, as the cat wasn't a common household critter at that time. The term "pussycat" most likely referred to the rabbit (Latin "lepus"), an animal that was much more associated with witchcraft, lunar magic, necromancy, and shapeshifting.

Isobel Gowdie's famous confession is said to include the following chant for shapeshifting into a rabbit:

I shall go into a hare,

With sorrow and sych and meickle care;

And I shall go in the Devil's name,

Ay while I come home again.

(sych: such; meickle: great)
To change back, she would say:

Hare, hare, God send thee care.

I am in a hare's likeness now,

But I shall be in a woman's likeness even now.

There's also a famous poem about "The Graveyard Rabbit" which I'll be covering next week, which brings up interesting associations between rabbits, witches, and the dead.

Of course, that isn't to say that your physical (corporeal) familiar can't be a cat -- or a dog, or a turtle, a snake or any other creature with whom you have a working magical relationship. My point is that your being a witch and having Puff or Fido in the house doesn't automatically make Puff or Fido your familiar.

Corporeal Familiar

A corporeal familiar is a living animal with whom you have a working, magical relationship. This animal shows an interest and adeptness for the type -- at least, for some types -- of magic you perform. Some familiars love ritual, and they present themselves promptly at the start of every circle and spell. Some are magnificent energy workers, and they'll help you direct healing energy. Natalie's cat, Jinx, does both of these. Hex, on the other hand, prefers to observe and comment upon the making of potions and mixing of herbs. (See, I told you I'm perfectly willing to accept cats as familiars.)

My rabbit George also loves ritual and energy movement, and he takes a very active role in ritual work, when he's part of the circle. On a harness and lead, he will go from one quarter to the next -- at exactly the right time -- and then to the main altar. Fred, my other buns, pays special attention when I'm working with the spirits of the dead.

Most animals like energy, and many animals are willing to help with the healing process in some capacity. As for willingness or talent to be a familiar in magic, you really need to pay attention to the proclivities of the specific animal. They aren't all interested or able, no matter how much you love each other.


Incorporeal Familiar

Witches didn't just have animals who helped them manifest their magic. Lore and witch trial records (not ALL of which can be complete fabrications) are filled with accounts of witches calling upon familiar spirits to do their bidding.

Nature spirits, angels, demons, magistelli, Deities, the Mighty Dead, the Good People (fairies). There are a host of unseen forces with myriad names. Witches have certainly worked with all of these. (Don't shake your head at the computer screen. Witches most certainly HAVE worked with Angels and Demons. Let's not forget that the word "angel" comes from the Greek ἄγγελος pronounced "angelos", which means messenger. "Demon" also comes from the Greek --  δαίμων pronounced daímōn, meaning nothing more or less than "spirit."  Neither was inherently benevolent, nor was the other malevolent. Can they be? Sure. I bet you can be nasty, too.)

Like most beings, angels and demons are primarily looking out for themselves, but they're willing to make a deal with you. Actually, I think that can be said of ALL non-corporeal spirits. Some are naturally more amiable and inclined to work with you. Some, not so much. A few can be down-right nasty, but don't let their category be the deciding factor. There are more fey that I would recommend avoiding than there are Goetic demons, frankly.

In fact, Paul Huson, in his book Mastering Witchcraft (a classic that I HIGHLY recommend) suggests getting in touch with a particular Goetic demon pretty early in your Craft practice. Natalie and I have long maintained that conjuring demons is a historical part of the craft. We don't recommend doing it lightly or unprepared, by any means. But having a good working relationship with a couple of these spirits is a good thing for a witch.

Maybe it's because I'm a necromancer, as well, but I also advocate reaching out to the Mighty Dead in search of a familiar spirit willing to guide you. This year at Samhain, our coven was blessed by the adoption, of sorts, of a witch from the other side of the veil. We have learned since that time that this is another time-honored tradition. We just stumbled into it. She came to us while we were using the Ouija board, and she has been present for us collectively and individually ever since.

The Unseen World enfolds us, and we Witches walk within it, while maintaining a connection to consensus reality. Our familiar spirits help us navigate and understand the Unseen, for they are a part of that world.


For more information on Familiars, I recommend:

Robin Artisson's series of guest posts (Forgetting Human) on the American Folkloric Witchcraft blog (which covers a great deal more than familiars, and is sooooo worth the read!)
and
Natalie's post on Familiars