Saturday, March 29, 2008

What to say to trad Christians who condemn you

Merry Meet!

You may have to accept that your Christian friend will never fully accept the fact that you are a witch. There is just no convincing them of it. They have read those verses in the Bible about not allowing a witch to live and they equate what we do with the descriptions laid out in the Bible of sacrificing children to idols and mixing poisons and superstition.

To understand the difference between what you do and what the Bible prohibits, you have to understand what witches do and why. We can say with absolute authority that we do not sacrifice babies to idols, we sacrifice nothing at all, which, I would remind any one who questions what I do, that early Jews and Muslims did and in some very orthodox communities still do. We follow the rede which commands us to harm none and the teaching of Jesus which says that God does not delight in the blood of doves and lambs for the washing away of sins.

We do not practice necromancy. That is the conjuring of the dead. This a practice done by sorcerers and spiritualists. If we communicate with dead people, like beloved relatives, it is because they communicate with us, we do not use rituals to force the dead to speak to us. Even Jesus, before his Ascension into heaven appeared to the disciples in a glorified, supernatural state.

We do tell fortunes, but we tell them for free and we use them as tools to enrich our lives, not as promotion of superstition. If I throw the cards for you and it forewarns you of say a relationship that is unhealthy, you can take that information and analyze the situation and get out of it. If I tell you the cards indicate that you are in danger of an accident, that does not mean you should cower under your bed, but to be careful, go about your routine and take no unnecessary risks. It is just a little more than telling you to have a good day at school or work and to be careful. It is the same with any form of divinations.

We do mix up potions but science confirms that herbs, spices and scents do affect change in us. Using natural methods to pep us up, calm us down, relieve depression, heal or to transport us into a meditative state is not a sin. If it were, God would have not ordered the burning of incense and sage and other spices and oils in the temple with the ark of the covenant. As witches, we do not poison or cause harm to anyone or anything.

Amulets, talismans and totems are nothing in and of themselves, it is the power and energy we give them. If there were true prohibitions, we would not wear the cross/crucifix, the star of David or saints medallions. These are all talismanic in that we transfer energy to them to protect us and keep us safe as we go through our lives. It also tells people who we are and what we believe in. To make them objects of superstition is the sin implied here.

Objects like wands, staffs, brooms, swords and athames are just that. For example, in the twenty third Psalm it says"Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me" The rod to me is my wand, and my staff is my sage staff. Jesus said that if you did not own a sword, to go and buy on for we are as sheep among the wolves. The athame functions the same way. It begins as the woman's kitchen knife. Your mother, I am sure, has a favorite knife in the kitchen. It feels good in your hand, it is the knife she looks for to chop vegetables or herbs or meat, the athame is just a dressed up ceremonial version of that. My first athame was just a sharp kitchen style knife for years. In the ancient times, when cutlery was difficult to make and find, the woman of the house carried her knife in a scabbard from her belt so no matter where she went she would have that useful tool with her. My cauldron is the place where warmth and comfort and food and drink are found. It is not evil. If I were cooking up toads and cat heads in it, that would be different, but I make potions and burn spells and candles and incense in it. I dry flowers in it. Brooms are just ancient women's weapons or tools that tie us to our Craft past, but I don't always use my broom (the last time was at a handfasting ceremony for two gay guys who wanted to have a commitment ceremony, so I officiated their handfasting, it was my first act as a Priestess, as a matter of fact, and it was a Christian ceremony)

There are mentions of certain woods that are holy to God and specifically ordered them for the temple. There are stones and crystals beloved by God and is a part of the old temple and new temple to come from the sky in the moment of the Second Coming. Numbers and animals have symbolic meanings throughout the Bible. It even says that young men will dream dreams and old men would see visions (or vice versa).

As Jesus said: "devils cannot cast out devils" "evil men cannot heal". We could do none of the things we do without the blessings of God.

There are gads of ways to look at those verses. The thing is, people have no clue how the Bible was written, how words were translated, even political agendas that effected it.

But listen,don't do anything if you think it will not honor God. If you feel that this is not the way to honor God, that is okay. Craft is not for everyone. But if you think you honor God and carry out the mission of Christ, if you think Craft helps you access the powers and energies promised to us to heal, cast out demons, comfort and bless, then do it.

There are tons of prohibitions in the OT. You are not supposed to cut your hair/sideburns, women aren't supposed to wear men's clothing, women are supposed to cover their hair, you can't have tattoos and piercings. We aren't supposed to eat pork, shrimp, lobster, or clams and oysters, women are supposed to be segregated from men during their periods and after childbirth. These are all prohibitions that would make you unclean and unable to sit in the temple, take part in sacraments, keep us separated from God. I'm sure most trad Christians doesn't adhere to all those things either. At any rate, whatever you do, do it because it is right between you and God. Do nothing to please anyone, not me, not your friend, not your pastor or your mother and father. Do it because it pleases God.

Magik is neither black nor white. Magik is natural, it works with the earth, the elements, and with the seasons and tides. The witch is who makes the magik negative or positive. Being a Christian and a witch means that we work under two very distinct sets of ethics, the Bible and rede. Jesus said that we would be able to work all wonders perform all miracles and sacraments so long as we do it in his name. The Craft is our inheritance. Jesus empowers my witchcraft and practice, and Jesus alone. The angels and Saints are simply his agents who work unceasingly for us on our behalf.

Brightest Blessings Be
Aslinn

Saturday, March 22, 2008

How does a Christian Witch participate in a Wiccan/Pagan ritual?

Merry Meet!

As the Craft community grows in number and variety there will be time when you may be celebrating Sabat or Esbat with Pagan/Wiccan circles. How do you participate when you may be the only one of the participants in a non-Christian circle?

Approaches differ. It depends on whether or not the circle will permit you to participate. If they do, this is how you might you might go about being respectful the circle while raising energy in the name of the Christian God.

Many covens or circles begin with a calling of the corners. Sometimes this is about calling the elements, sometimes it is about calling the watchtowers. This can be in the form of devas or faery folk. If this is the case you can call upon the archangels. The archangels tend to also be a part of Wiccan/Pagan practices as they are increasingly incorporating elements of the holy kabbalah. If they call upon their gods and goddesses, you may call upon the Trinity, the Blessed Virgin and or any of the Saints you are attracted to. Above all, be respectful. When other pantheons are being called, stand still, do not speak,and when your turn comes to raise energy call out clearly. Raise your arms or uplift your hands, palm up. Cross your arms at the breast when other gods and goddesses are invoked. It declares to the circle that you are being respectful to their tradition even if you do not call on upon their sacred spirits.

On the disposition of cakes and ale in formal circle cerimonies, you may wish to abstain. When the cakes and ale come your way pass it on to the next celebrant with a smile and a blessed be. After the cerimony there will be other refreshments, cakes and ale is not simple refreshment, it is sacramental and you may be uncomfortable eating food offered to the honor of other pantheons.

If the circle is celebrating in a way that is uncomfortable to you, you may absent yourself from the circle by quietly stepping out of the circle, opening and closing the circle with your wand or wand hand. Intone: I open this circle but the space remains sealed. or some other formula. If you leave the circle, do not re-enter it. You may disrupt the cerimony.

But do not simply join a circle and participate without discussing things with the high priest or priestess. This shows respect. We, after all, do not wish to be inconsiderate or intrusive. This is not the way to create a bridge between the Christian Witch and the Pagan/Wiccan community.

Brightest Blessings Be
Aslinn

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Bell, Book and Candle: What to do when your church discovers you are a witch.

Merry Meet!

I received an email from a young witch friend I know through numerous email conversations. The email detailed a situation I had never encountered before. This young 20 something witch had been practicing the Craft for five or six years. Recently, a friend of hers who had been Craft interested joined another church and got saved. She went to her pastor and told him that she was a little confused because she was a Christian but still wanted to practice Craft but felt conflicted. After much intense scrutiny, the person revealed who had been answering questions for her about the Craft. The pastor then took it upon himself to tell the witch's pastor that she was practicing witchcraft. The pastor dismissed her from her Sunday School position and then told her that if she did not "repent" from her "sin" of witchcraft that she would be excommunicated from the congregation, which eventually happened.

Of course this troubled her a great deal. I asked permission to discuss her situation with Gaelyn. This is what we came up with together.

It is difficult to follow the dual paths of Christianity and witchcraft. To do so means that often you must practice one part of your faith in isolation from the other. Of course this can cause conflict and trouble for the Christian Witch practitioner. You must be mature and strong enough to practice both, though one you practice in your heart.

Should circumstances arise that you would be discovered, you may have to make a difficult choice. Do you confess your "sin" and repent? Or do you walk away from the congregation and find another?
Both decisions are difficult and not to be made lightly.

Gaelyn and I recommend that you first search your heart. If you feel guilty for practicing Craft, you shouldn't be practicing Craft at all. If you feel good about your Craft practice, begin a spiritual journey to find a new congregation to be a part of. It may even be a new religion you seek. Take your time, do research, visit many churches and houses of worship. Consider it a form of spiritual quest. Try to see what you are supposed to learn.

Should you disclose your witchcraft? Why should you. If you are practicing it within the constraints of what we Christian witches think of as good work, then no, you need not disclose. There were things that even Jesus said were to be kept secret until his resurrection. (the transfiguration, for example) Witchcraft is not about converting others nor is it about setting limitations. Witchcraft is occult, secret, private practice, and as Jesus said, we should invoke God in private in prayer and confession and repentance.

The sad truth is that we have not yet been able to overcome prejudices people have held against witches for centuries, long before the Bible and not just within Judeo-Christian/Islamic circles but in traditional and tribal religions, witches have a tarnished reputation. It may be many lifetimes before we are accepted by any trad religions.

Do not let the closed mind of others tear yourself away from a relationship with God. If all fails, worship God at home, pray, read the Bible, sing songs of praise and do whatever you wish in the manner of prayer. As I have said many times that though I love my religion, I know that it is a human institution and the Kingdom of God is wherever you stand.

Brightest Blessings Be
Aslinn

Happy Dedication Day Tanith


Merry Meet!

Listen Brothers and Sisters of the Craft. We have a new Sister in the way of the wise. Welcome her to our circle.

A poem for your dedication



Welcome thou Maiden of the Moon



The Night Orb rises high

Casting upon us the light of Magikal Benediction

For on this night, a sister comes

And adds to the tribe of the Children of God

Who raises energies, speaks to the trees,

And knows the wisdom of the ancients.

Born again soul, sister to the Christ

Daughter of the Maiden of the Moon

Witch and Christian, I charge thee:

Serve God, serve Jesus and his mother

In what image you find her

Learn the way of the wise

Know the ways of Mother Earth

Of her seasons, the elements, and all living creatures

You are a priestess, seer, healer and warrioress

It is your heritage and your birthright

Keep the Laws of God and the Witches Rede

And your own will and the goodness of your heart

Welcome Sister into the circle

Merry Meet, Merry Part, Merry Meet Again

And Brightest Blessings Be



Happy dedication day Tanith Luna Crevan

You may now consider yourself a named witch of the first degree



Brightest Blessings Be,
Aslinn and Gaelyn

Friday, March 14, 2008

When things seem to go wrong...what is a Christian Witch to do?

Merry Meet,

Sometimes, despite everything we try to do, troubles come our way, no matter what. We are never promised the easy road, whether we are Christians or Christian Witches or Wiccans and Pagans, sometimes things just seem to burden us and trouble us.

We can do one of two things. We can become dispaired, and we all feel this way one time or another, or we can learn from it and try to understand what we are supposed to do now in our life. Sometimes, bad times are sent to us to try and help us see another path we should follow, look for different options, seek better or new opportunities.

I am a teacher. I am a substitute teacher to be exact. There are special challenges to be met in that sort of job. I don't know what is happening to young people today. Our young people are mean hearted and cruel to eachother and the adults in their lives. Sad but true. When I was in a long term sub position, I had troubles, and failings, none of us are perfect, but there are also times that I was a success and those were the best times and they were the most frequent times. But now that I am back in per diem work, I find that those moments of victory are far and few in between and i have made the decision to find other work.

Maybe some of my troubles are my own fault. I think maybe they are. But much of my troubles also stem from the fact that so many of my colleagues are indifferent to others and care only for their own securities and dislike any dissenters. At any rate, after so many years of pass and fail and worries and stress, I have decided to leave the situation as soon as I find more permanent work, outside of the educational system.

But what do we do when we are faced with life changing situations? Should we race to magik and try to heal ourselves with spells and incantations? Should we mix up potions and bless our homes and selves. Should we consider revenge spells?

I know you will be tempted to do all of these things but I suggest that you take some time and pray first. Ask for guidance and comfort and even forgiveness. Forgiveness for yourself, forgiveness for others and forgiveness to others. Prayer is the most ancient form of spelling and that is what you should do first.

Then you might want cleanse yourself and your personal space and cast charms that calm and ease you. Be proactive and turn back negativity with a protective shield. Call upon your sacred spirit and find peace from them.

I wish to thank my sister and my boyfriend Gaelyn and my parents for standing by me and for showing me support and compassion. I would also like to thank my Craft friends, my brother and sister witches who have shone their support.

Brightest Blessings Be
Aslinn

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Remember, Holocaust is just a fancy way of saying Burning Times

Merry Meet!

I know that those who are civically minded will want to know this is happening. Copy and paste this on an email and sent it to your friends. Don't let the burning times happen again.

EISENHOWER IN DACHAU

It is a matter of history that when Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, General Dwight Eisenhower, found the victims of the death camps, he ordered all possible photographs to be taken, and for the German people from surrounding villages to be ushered through the camps and even made to bury the dead..

He did this because he said in words to this effect: 'Get it all on record now - get the films - get the witnesses - because somewhere down the track of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing'.

This week, a school in Great Britain/United Kingdom removed The Holocaust from its school curriculum because it 'offended' the Muslim population which claims it never occurred.

This is a frightening portent of the fear that is gripping the world and how easily each country is giving into it.

It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended.

This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the 6 million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated with the German and Russian peoples looking the other way!

Now, more than ever, with Iran, among others, claiming the Holocaust to be 'a myth,' it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets.

This e-mail is intended to reach 40 million people worldwide! Be a link in the memorial chain and help distribute this around the world.

Don't just delete this. It will only take a minute to pass this along.

Brightest Blessings Be
Aslinn Dhan

Sunday, March 02, 2008

A Little Call of the Elements

Merry Meet!

If there are any witches out there who are looking for a call of the elements or are looking for a new one, check this one out. It is from Tanith LunaCrevan and she is one of our newest sisters in the Christian Craft community. Thank you Tanith for your permission to share this sweet little invocation.

Elemental Call-

To the East, I call upon Raphael,
Lord of the Air,
Healer of the Earth.
To the South, I call upon Michael,
Lord of Fire,
Defender of Man, Slayer of evil.
To the West, I call upon Gabriel,
Lord of Water,
Messenger of God, Harbringer of the Divine.
To the North I call upon Uriel,
Lord of Earth,
Angel of Death and spiritual renewal.

Air, Fire, Water ,Earth,
Elements of celestial birth,
Raphael, Michael, Gabriel, Uriel,
Lords of heaven, joy and myrrth,
Join me in this Sacred Circle,
Protected from all blast,
Built to last,
Aid me in this spell I cast.

Bless me as I weave this charm,
Keep me from all pain and harm,
Help me follow the Three Fold Law,
Send me forgiveness for sin's fatal flaw.

As I will it, As God wills it, so mote it be.

Brightest Blessings Be and thanks again to Tanith,
Aslinn

Saturday, March 01, 2008

Additional Links

There seems to be some brand of trouble with the links element so I will do links here:

http://www.witches-tutorial.com/paths/cw.html

This is an interesting page, very straightforward, seems exclusive to Christian centered Witchcraft rather than Goddess Christian tradition.

http://www.geocities.com/tragicpixie/ChristianCraft.html

This interesting Saint magik....a bit on the gypsy/voudou side but good directions for the first time Christian Crafter.

http://www.foxygoddess.com/cwc/index.htm

Not all the links work but most of them do. An excellent directory to the Christian witch movement

http://arganteswell.tripod.com/id1.html

Pretty good website, deals with Christian Gnosticism primarily but full of interesting stuff

http://www.wicca.com/celtic/wicca/christian.htm

Many of you have probably seen this essay, but like they used to say in old Universal movies "A good cast is worth repeating"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A5407021

Excellent article acknowledging Christian Witchcrafts existance and explanation of the movement.



http://p075.ezboard.com/CAN-A-PERSON-BE-BOTH-A-CHRISTIAN-AND-A-WICCAN/fingodsimageaplaceforchristianpaganwomenfrm10.showMessage?topicID=4.topic
Good discussion group for Christo-Pagan women. My Gaelyn hipped me to this one. Thanks my old goat:P

http://www.thesistersthree.com/forums/showthread.ts3?threadid=3985

This a website very inspired by Charmed, but that is okay and my appeal to young women who are new to the Craft. Christian Craft oriented.

If anyone come across any other Christian Centered Witchcraft sites, let me know and I will check them out and paste them up...

Thanks bunches to the little witches (Pansy Faerieflower and Jacob Dragonheart and Little Rabbit) who found these on the web and emailed them to me.

Blessed Be
Aslinn